Huskers Travel to Houston for Track Kat Klash

Friday-Sunday, Nov. 3-5, 9:55 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 8:20 a.m. (CT) -Houston, Texas (Emerald Lanes)

The second-ranked Nebraska bowling team continues its season this Friday through Sunday at the Track Kat Klash at Emerald Lanes in Houston, Texas. The tournament is hosted No. 6 Sam Houston State. 

The Huskers are coming off a tournament title at the Brunswick Bearcat Open after defeating top-ranked McKendree in the championship match on Sunday. They finished win an 11-2 record and a total pinfall of 10,065. Senior Kelly Belzeski led the team, placing second in the individual standings with an average of 218.8. Senior Julia Bond also landed in the top five with a fourth-place finish after scoring an average of 215.6. Both seniors were named to the all-tounament team.  

A total of 22 teams will compete this weekend in Texas, including 14 ranked teams and two others receiving votes in the National Tenpin Coaches Association 2017-18 Preseason Poll. The top five teams in the nation and nine of the top-10 teams in the preseason poll will bowl at the packed tournament. 

The list of teams joining the Huskers in Illinois this weekend includes No. 1 McKendree, No. 3 Arkansas State, No. 4 Vanderbilt, No. 5 Sam Houston State, No. 6 Stephen F. Austin, No. 7 Maryland Eastern Shore , No. 10 Central Missouri, No. 12 Delaware State, No. 17 Tulane, No. 18 North Caroline A&T, No. 19 Alabama-Burmingham, No. 20 Prairie View A&M, No. 24 Youngstown State, Alabama State (RV), Louisiana Tech (RV),  Alabama A&M, Grambling State, Jackson State, Maryville, Southern and Texas Southern. 

Competition begins Friday morning at 9:55 a.m. (CT) with five sets of five-game Baker matches, followed by five traditional matches on Saturday morning, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Combined results from Friday and Saturday will determine the seeding for Sunday’s bracket-play championship tournament, in which each team will play three rounds of best-of-seven Baker matches, beginning at 8:20 a.m.

Track Kat Klash Notes
Last season the Huskers placed second, marking the fifth consecutive season the Huskers have finished in the top five at the Track Kat Klash. Last season, the Huskers were defeated by hosts Sam Houston State in the championship match, 4.5-1.5. 

Huskers Open Season With First-Place Finish 
The Huskers started the 2017-18 season by winning the title at the Brunswick Bearcat Open over the weekend of Oct. 27-29. After falling to No. 1 ranked McKendree, the Huskers defeated No. 6 Stephen F. Austin in a roll off after tying 3.5-3.5, sending them to a rematch with McKendree for the championship title. The Huskers defeated McKendree by a score of 4-3 to earn the title. NU went 11-2 overall during the tournament.

All-Americans Return in 2017-18
The Huskers will be led by the trio of Julia Bond, Kelly Belzeski, and Meghan Straub, who each received All-America honors in 2016-17. Bond led the team last season with a season average of 212. As a returning All-American and a co-captain this season, Bond is a force to be reckoned with in the Nebraska lineup. Honorable-mention All-American Belzeski was second on the team last season with an average of 203.8. Straub ended her sophomore season with an average of 198.7 and an honorable-mention All-American award. Sophomore Raquel Orozco returns as a strong contender for one of the spots on the five-player rotation after her 2016-17 season average of 202.3.

Track Kat Klash- Teams Competing

No. 1 McKendree No.2 Nebraska No.3 Arkansas State No. 4 Vanderbilt

No. 5 Sam Houston State No. 6 Stephen F. Austin No. 7 Maryland Eastern Shore

No. 10 Central Missouri No. 12 Delaware State

No. 17 Tulane

No. 18 North Caroline A&T No. 19 Alabama-Birmingham 

No. 20 Prairie View A&M

No. 24 Youngstown State

Alabama State (RV) Louisiana Tech (RV) Grambling State

Southern Texas Southern

Jackson State Maryville

Alabama A&M